#Brower Park

[newyorkthegoldenage]

A peaceful scene in Brooklyn's Brower Park, September 28, 1941.

Photo: NYC Parks Dep't

[clairity-org]

Brower Hatcher, Prophecy of the Ancients, 1988, Cast stone, stainless steel, bronze aluminum ceramic, Gold Medal Park, 6/7/23 #walkerartcenter #sculpture by Sharon Mollerus

[cultivating-wildflowers]

2024 Reading - August

There I was at the beginning of the month all worried about my potential page count for August, and then I went and read well beyond that. It's fine. I'm just a baby. The good news is that I seem to have caught my reading stride again--I actually wanted to spend my evenings reading a physical book, and didn't feel like reading was a slog. And even though I'm only halfway toward my original reading goal for the year, I've made good progress through my digital TBR.

Total books: 9  |  New reads: 8  |   2024 TBR completed: 1 (0 DNF) / 27/36 total   |   2024 Reading Goal: 53/100

July | September

potential reading list from August 1st

First of all, please admire this graph:

I haven't read this many pages in a month in like two years. (This does count pages and hours I read for books I ultimately DNF.)

Moving on.

#1 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol 1 by Beth Brower - 5/5 stars

A quick, charming read with surprising depth. I actually cried at one point. And I definitely want to read more. It’s a pity each volume is so small and that none are available through any library in the state.

Note from end-of-the-month Phoebe: I bought Volume 2. And another book by the same author.

#2 - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke - 5/5 stars ('24 TBR)

Expertly crafted historical setting effortlessly blended with the dangerously fantastical. Rich, complex characters who are people of their time. A totally engrossing writing style with asides and footnotes and sharp dialogue that left me laughing with delight. So many tiny elements that combined to make up exactly the sort of story I crave. I wasn't expecting to be enthralled, but I was from the first page. Maybe it rewired my brain a little bit.

I will grant it's not for everyone, but it was PERFECT for me. Just don't ask me what the plot is.

Reasons you may not like it: 1) It's huge and a bit of a time investment. 2) It is largely character-driven and, while well-paced, doesn't have a lot of external pressure to keep the story exciting. 3) It's somewhat verbose, in a Tolkien sort of way. 4) Something of an open ending (which, weirdly, didn't bother me?). 5) As the magic tips from human to fairy, it develops a dark and occult flavor. This is nice for people who like their fairies to remain distinctly wicked within the narrative (rather than roguishly morally gray), but there are decidedly dark elements. I tried to watch the show a few years ago and didn't make it through the first episode, and as I recall it was because the fairies came off a tad too dark for me. Somehow it was better on the page.

#3 - Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden - 4/5 stars

This is both the biography of a man who escaped the North Korean prison camp where he was born, and also a biography of North Korea itself over the past 50-odd years. Sparse and somewhat stilted, full of facts and figures, it reads more like an article than a story. I'll say it's an important story, despite the surrounding controversy, but the writing style didn't do it any favors.

Note regarding the peculiar controversy surrounding this book: A few years after the book was published, Shin Dong-hyuk contacted Harden and revised his story as told here. The base details remained the same, but timelines and locations had changed. Yeonmi Park faced the same controversy following the publication of her memoir of her childhood in North Korea (In Order to Live; which, weirdly, I read in August of last year), which to me says less about the veracity at the heart of both individuals' histories and more about how trauma, in particular that brought about by political violence, can impact emotions and memory. If you're interested in reading this book, definitely check out Harden's updated forward examining Shin's altered account. Harden himself repeatedly acknowledges Shin as "an unreliable narrator of his own life".

More like this: "In Order to Live" by Yeonmi Park with Maryanne Vollers; "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah; "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

#4 - Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford - 4/5 stars (audio)

If you couldn't tell, I'm desperately trying to fill in some of the missing letters for my second year of a self-imposed alphabet titles challenge. This is my fifth attempt at a "T". Attempts three and four are below in the DNFs. I decided to bank on an extreme change of pace with this one.

A solid middle grade adventure, and one I'll definitely recommend in future. Fun and unpredictable and my head hurts, because time travel always does that to me. Ridiculously short chapters, for some reason.

More like this: A bit like "A Wrinkle in Time", a bit like "Meet the Robinsons" (the movie; haven't read the books).

#5 - The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud - 4/5 stars

I DNF'd this last year after trying and failing for a month to get into it. I had definitely been in the perfect mood when I started the series last year, but for some reason The Empty Grave gave me no end of trouble, and I gave it up about a quarter of the way through.

Not so this time. This time it took me all of four days to finish.

Thankfully this follows the tradition of refreshing the reader's memory of previous events in the series, because I'd forgotten some of the pertinent details. Either because of my foggy memory or because of something else in the story, the ending fell kind of flat for me, like it was missing an element to deliver a good emotional conclusion, or like it didn’t fully satisfy the stakes set up at the start of the book. I consider this series more young adult than middle grade, but the way it wrapped up definitely felt middle grade in style.

Still a solid ending for sure, just a little confusing.

#6 - A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle - 5/5 stars (reread) - 50th read of the year!

Comfort book my belovéd.

#7 - The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution by John Oller - 4/5 stars (audio)

Francis Marion is one of my dad's favorite figures of the Revolutionary War, and man, I can see why.

The writing itself is somewhat dry, crammed full of names and dates technical details of battles; but Oller manages to weave a solid narrative as he combs through the legends surrounding Marion and picks out the facts.

More like this: "Lion of Liberty" by Harlow Giles Unger.

#8 - Heidi by Johanna Spyri - 4/5 stars (audio)

"Heidi" was one of the movies I watched on repeat as a kid. Not the Shirley Temple version, but the 1968 made-for-TV version that apparently took some liberties with the plot. (But according to Wikipedia, it's most memorable for interrupting a football game for its premier.)

The book is a cozy classic children's book, plain and simple. It feels a bit like The Secret Garden with an orphan coming to an unfamiliar place and thriving there (plus helping an invalid thrive as well); and a bit like L.M. Montgomery pushing all of us to get outside and breathe some fresh air.

#9 - The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany - 4/5 stars (audio)

Absolutely gorgeous.

You might like this is you like: The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton; or the narrative style of the legends told by characters in the Queen's Thief series.

Useless fun fact: Lord Dunsany's name was Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett.

DNF

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - Hilarious two-star reviews proved it's not something worth finishing and it doesn't deliver on the premise. (It's not even about Hamnet. It's a "re-imagining" of Anne/Agnes Hathaway-Shakespeare and guess what. She's a strong, wild woman who practices witchcraft in late 16th century England. Groundbreaking. I need to stop skimming summaries.)

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert - Got about a third of the way through this one before I realized...I just didn't care. The premise was good, and the delivery was kind of meh but not bad--which, considering how rarely I read newer YA these days, was actually a point in its favor. But then we got to the reveal and I went "Wait. That's it?" and lost interest. I don't think magical realism is for me. Also, it didn't affect my decision to stop reading, but I didn't like the audiobook narrator.

Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert - A companion book to the Hazel Wood duology, presented as the book-within-a-book that the Hazel Wood revolves around. I read a couple of the stories out of curiosity, but the allure of that book-within-a-book is gone when it's told in the same voice as the actual story.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - I...have no idea. What is this? I got a little over halfway through it before it got to be too much and I gave up. I liked the writing voice well enough but the story meandered along a plodding, darkly sentimental route and I got lost. And a little disgusted.

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart - I wanted to like it, but it was too bawdy for me.

The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley - Robin is such a hit-or-miss author for me, and this one was a solid miss. The premise was too absurd for me to stick it out. I might have given it another chapter, but none of the characters were really grabbing me, and I wasn't fond of how McKinley chose to portray Marian.

Currently Reading:

The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett - I swear I'll have finished this by the end of the year.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown - I'll finish this one pretty quickly.

[lboogie1906]

Jonathan Moore (born April 21, 1969 - March 8, 2017) teacher, musician, entrepreneur, activist, and youth advocate, was born to Gwendolyn Jones and Jonny Moore in Seattle. He attended Morehouse College, where he formed the group Source of Labor with his brother Upendo “Negus 1” Tookas and DJ Kamikaze.

He started producing a series of community-based hip-hop shows and activities, the first of which, “African Echoes—A Hip-Hop Continuum,” premiered in 1992. Source of Labor played the Crocodile Café in Belltown, which brought Seattle’s ‘second generation’ of hip-hop downtown for the first time. He and his wife Erika “Kylea” White and Tookas—founded Jasiri Media Group, which Mickey Hess in the book Hip-Hop America: A Regional Guide.

He produced the all-age-friendly “Sure Shot Sundays” in 1999 at the Sit & Spin downtown to provide opportunities for young people to see, hear, and perform local hip-hop. It was there, that Ben “Macklemore” Haggerty made his live stage debut as a member of the group Elevated Elements.

When Seattle Mayor Paul Schell publicly blamed hip-hop for a 2000 shooting outside a Pioneer Square nightclub, he organized a peaceful rally at Westlake Park in response. Schell’s replacement, Greg Nickels, presented him with the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Hip-Hop in 2003. He teamed with fellow Seattle icon Vitamin D to grow the local “Big Tunes” producer/ beat competition into a traveling national event broadcast on BET. He began co-hosting “Sunday Night Sound Session” with DJ Hyphen on KUBE 93 FM in 2005. A lunch with Sub Pop Records Executive VP Megan Jasper led to experimental Seattle hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces, signing with the label in 2010, which led to the signing of up-and-coming local MC Porter Ray, and the release of his debut album Watercolor.

His depth of service and contributions place him among the most significant cultural figures in Seattle’s hip-hop history. He is survived by his wife, Caitlin Brower Moore, and two sons. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[constantvigilante]

Thanks for the tag, @as-dreamers-do! :)

Last Song I Listened To: So You Are Tired by Sufjan Steven's. Spotify alerted me that he had a new song out so I had to check it out! I used to be big into his Illinois and Michigan albums back in the day, and his first set of Christmas albums (though my roommates hate those) but I haven't really checked out his newer stuff. Good song. Sad, painfully fragile. Just what you want from him.

Currently Watching: We finally managed to get Only Murders in the Building to work on the TV so we watched the first episode of the new season tonight! Started Mentopolis last week, finished up the first season of Fantasy High this week, and my gym show is Kimi no Todoke because I needed something sweet and harmless.

Currently Reading: I just finished The Q by Beth Brower (who also wrote my best beloved Emma M Lion) so I'm sort of between books at the moment. I should probably start the next Annotated Austen, which looks like it will be Mansfield Park... which I read last year and almost don't feel ready to reread even with annotations? I might need a bit longer or to wait until I've finished one of the poetry books I'm in the middle of (Selected Poems of Mark Strand and Jenny Joseph's The Thinking Heart). ...and I'm following the Blue Castle book club tags, with no intention to follow along in the book because I reread that last year too. I just love seeing people's reactions! ...oh blast, and I forgot I still haven't finished Our Lady of Kingdoms.

Current Obsession: I'm back in an HP RPG, Marauder Era this time so... I'm really interested in the 70s at the moment and everything my characters are into (poetry, folk music, art deco jewelry, disco) even if I don't always have time to research. Deeply obsessed with D20 and Brennan Lee Mulligan (and Worlds Beyond Number! So good! Please release this week's episode!) And this feels like it's meant to be about media but in the summer I want to eat fruit all the time and right now I'm very into frozen grapes. So delicious, so refreshing.

Tagging @magnetocerebro , @scarvenartist and @melliabee and anyone else who wants to do it!

[fatty-stories]

THE COACHS NEW DIET

"Come in, lewis" shouted Coach Harrison from inside his office. Lewis entered, and before him stood his coach. No human could be described as a look-alike to him, so a nickname he was known as Hercules.

"Lewis, it's good to see you. Please take a seat." Lewis just did as he was told. He had no idea what was coming. "Lewis, you would be an ideal candidate for the 'Minnoch Diet'. Every year schools around the world submit one student to be a part of the programme that happens, and I think you'd be ideal for it.

"Does it cost, sir?" Lewis asked with a timid voice.

"No, you pay no money. All you need to be is be here tomorrow, and I'll take you to where the programme takes place. Then youll stay there for six weeks over the summer break from training, and then you will return to school with a new body." Coach Harrison stared at lewis, waiting for a reply.

Bulking, that means muscle growth. Lewis thought to himself. He was already pretty muscular, but he was by far the biggest lad on the team. "I'm in coach!" lewis was excited. He had never been on holiday before, let alone on a six-week holiday.

That night, Lewis returned to his flat and packed all his t-shirts and shorts. That night he kept thinking about what he might look like after the six weeks were up. Will he be the biggest guy on the team? While he was sleeping, lewis came a lot. "WHAT IS THAT?" Lewis said as he woke up. After smelling it and also tasting it, he realised it was cum. He came across the idea of him growing up?

Lewis got to the sports centre at 6 am sharp. "Well, lewis. You ready?" "Yes, coach." Lewis said eagerly, "Right, get in my car, and we will get going". The drive took nearly 30 minutes. This looked familiar though lewis "right, we're here, and I'm sorry". What, lewis thought. Before he could respond, Coach Harrison felt a rag on my mouth. Quickly he blacked out.

WEEK 1 (weight of 189 lbs)

Lewis came to a dark room. Where am I, he thought? "Finally, your awake." Lewis instantly recognised that voice. It was Coach Harrison. "You know, lewis, you are the first guy on the team to agree to this. I look forward to seeing you, balloon."

“B-b-bloon ?” Lewis barely got the word out of his mouth

"Yes, balloon. Do you wanna know why it's called the Minnoch Diet?" Lewis nodded "in the 1940s, a god walked this earth. Jon Brower Minnoch. He was the fattest man who ever lived. At his largest, he weighed 1483 pounds. No one has ever beaten that record. Until you. You will beat his record."

What was he on about? Fat? He thought this would be a chance for him to gain muscle, not fat. But before he could think about anything else, lewis felt a tube enter his mouth and then be pushed down deep into his throat. Then a thick warm liquid ran down his stomach. It felt odd. Lewis was never a big eater, so feeling his stomach full was a new sensation.

"Mmmmm", lewis tried to say he was full, but no one would have been able to hear him as the tube was blocking his mouth. "What, that boy? Ohh, you are full. Too bad. This won't stop. You're mine now, and I'm going to make you the fattest piggy in the world."

WEEK 2 (weight of 384 lbs)

It had been a long week. The pump didn't stop pumping the thick liquid into lewis. "I can't believe this is happening," he thought. He had to work so hard in the gym to get to the small amount of muscle that he had gotten, and it was all gone in the space of a week. The way he was tied to the table meant that he couldn't see his body, but from trying to move, he could feel that he had gotten fatter. He felt disgusting. He spent years looking at fat men at the park or the gym and thinking how on earth someone could get to be that large, and now in the space of a week, he became the fattest person he knew.

WEEK 3 (weight of 448 lbs)

"Good morning, fatty", that's how Coach Harrison greeted him every morning. Coach placed a hand on Lewises belly. "What?" He thought there was no way that was his belly because he couldn't see his body. He had no idea how large he was, but now coached and placed a hand on his belly, he knew he was large. "I'm so proud of you, your growing so nicely. Three weeks in, you are already over 400 lbs, only 1000 more to go, and then you will have reached the goal. But sadly, 1000 in three weeks is a nearly impossible task, so I needed to up the shake intake."

Lewis struggled as two more pipes entered his mouth. *click* the pressure was immense. He could feel his skin stretch under the immense building inside his stomach. "Enjoy fatty"

WEEK 4 (weight of 696 lbs)

What a week it had been. It didn't stop. It just kept coming. All lewis could do was moan. It was insane. Lewis had never felt this before. Was he enjoying it? Yes, he was.

"Ohh, this is new," said Coach Harrison. 'What?' Lewis thought to himself, and then he felt coach's hand on his cock, or what used to be his cock. Instead of his cock, the coach grabbed fat, a pad of fat. "You've got a gorgeous fat bad here, boy, and that cock is barely still here." Then Lewis felt unthinkable. Coach Harrison's hands slide down lewis's shaft. Lewis let out a loud and deep moan. "You like that fat boy" he did. Lewis loved this. Three jerks, that's all it took, and then the floodgates opened. Four weeks' worth of cum came flooding out of his cock. "That's a lot, good boy, " and the coach felt him alone again.

The wiring of the machine pumping this thick liquid into him filled the room once more.

WEEK 5 (weight of 943 lbs)

The fifth week was the most intense. After cuming last week, coach Harrison made it part of lewis's daily schedule. And it was amazing. Feeling the cum pool over his large fat pad was amazing.

"Right, piggy, you've got one week to go. And a lot of fattening to do. So, I think it's time to increase the intake of shake." No! Lewis thought, any more and he will explode, lewis thought. He fought as much as he could, but not working out for weeks meant that lewis lost all of his strength and coach Harrison got the fourth tube into his mouth and down his throat.

Week 6 (weight of 1355 lbs)

After six weeks of intense liquid pumping into his gut, he could finally see his stomach. It was insane. A massive fleshy blob.

"Right fatso, this is it, you've got two days left of the programme, and then you need to go back to school. Your currently weighing at 1355 lbs are close to the final goal. Come on, fatso, you can do this!" And he was right. Lewis didn't dear think about what would happen to him if he didn't make the coach's coals! So he gave in. Stopped hoping that it would stop and just let the fat take over.

First week back at training (weight of 1563 lbs)

Lewis woke up as coach Harrison switched on the lights. It's time to get up fatso. One by one coach undid the cuffs keeping lewis down to the table. The table was moved to an upright position. "Take a step, boy", coach Harrison took Lewisi's hands. It was insane. Moving with this amount of heft was almost impossible. "It's worked, lewis Im pleased to say your 1560 lbs. You are the fattest man who ever walked on this green earth."

"Coach", lewis muttered. "Can I see myself?"

"Sure thing, piglet", coach Harrison wheeled a mirror in front of lewis. Before him, he saw something that shocked him. Lewis was completely unrecognisable. His face had ballooned into a near-perfect circle, and where he once had six faint abs now hung a belly so large it touched the floor. Beneath that, who knows, lewis never saw his legs ever again.

"Is this permanent ?" Asked lewis.

"Yes, your mine, know. You will live the rest of your days here with me. I'll feed you the correct food to keep you at this site. But now I know how to fatten a boy into deep obesity Im going to bring back boy after boy until I've fattened up the whole team."

[corndoggod]

The Future of Brooklyn

Gliding backwards up the drowsy Hudson, so wide and slow, retreating from New York where it mouths the Atlantic, swallowing chemicals and commerce and the ocassional paddler. It’s mother’s day and I’m off to White Plains, flowers in hand, heart full, thinking of mother in the Great Plains.  

I’ve been listening to a mammoth biography of Ulysses S. Grant on long bike rides in recent weeks so the train attendant becomes a civil war officer in union blue with spriggy mutton chops. I tell everyone his middle initial of S, creating a comic U.S. Grant, was the result of a clerical error when he enrolled in West Point, which lies on the other side of the Hudson. I listen while biking and every hour of tape is also 15 miles of concrete. Grant had a head for math but not paperwork. He liked horses but not people. By the end of the book I’ll have ridden at least 750 miles. I’m sure my Mom, an American history teacher, and my Dad, a voracious reader with a penchant for war history, have both already read Chernow’s biography of Grant. 

The kinetics of trains activates some tongue inside me. Same for cycling and running. Motion loosens language. 

*****

It has been a tremendous weekend, a healthy, balanced weekend. Sav came to visit and stayed overnight. I watched the end of the Knicks game as she and C jawed and made risotto. Polished my beer and out the door to meet Nicky for another at Sycamore where I bump into a small press editor I worked for in Chicago. We’ve lived in the same neighborhood for years, but have only seen each other a handful of times. We made plans to get a drink Monday. 

Nicky and I go to Mia’s house party and scope out her new spot deep in Brooklyn. Newkirk deep. The lobby is gutted and scarred by fireworks, but there’s ample bike storage. This is the future of New York. A lonely future I lived in for seven years before the market caught up. 

*****

We woke up at a reasonable hour Saturday and took our coffee in the park, looping Sav in on our petition to ban dogs from Brower. Once grassy, the park is now balding, revealing tiny shards of glass and micro plastics, which can and will kill you with enough exposure. 

I retreated back to my desk to promote a story about Trump’s tax audit which could cost him $100 million. I hoped the story would get 100 million page views. 

C went to meet her mom and sister at The Met and I biked up to do laps in Central on standby until they were ready for lunch. The sun was illusory and I never did warm up in my short sleeves no matter how hard I pedaled. (Plus, my legs were still wiped from two days earlier when I ran 8 miles in the morning and banged out a quick 25 after work cycling around Prospect. It was the only way to vanquish my demons.) Worse still the weak sun attracted New Yorkers to Central’s green sanctuary like moths to a flame. There were horse carriages clopping and pooping, blind bike caddies, lazy eyed tourists, indexed runners going long and hordes of pedestrians abusing crosswalks lighting up my path with red, red, red. 

I stopped after two laps. I never stop but it was warmer when idle and the crowds were too annoying and sometimes it’s good to be still and really listen. I found a slab of black rock and read about Justice Clarence Thomas complaining about the “horrible lies” hounding him that just won a Pulitzer Prize. 

Mediocre thai for lunch, but hunger is the best sauce. The calories gave me a second wind and I decided to hit 50 and beelined to Prospect to round out the final 12 miles. Turning home, I noticed the statue on the little island between Rogers/Bedford and Dean/Bergen is of Grant on horseback. 

*****

I was running on fumes by then but we had tickets to go see a saxophonist in Greenwood Cemetery after dark. It turned out to be one of the most incredible performances I’ve seen in one of my favorite New York spots. 

I didn’t fully appreciate Colin Stetson’s genius until the second to last song when he explained he didn’t use any looping pedals. Instead he relied on circular breathing to deliver constant sound, as well as mics on his throat to magnify whale-like moans and a couple more on his sax for percussive finger taps and slaps. The result was eerie, hypnotic and cinematic. Everything felt deserving of a slow zoom in, which only felt appropriate from the man who scored Hereditary. 

We lounged for most of the set, huddling under blankets against the 50 degree chill, but we crowded the stage for the last song. Up close you could see his massive arms grip the sax, and his throat and mouth balloon like a veiny bagpipe. The kids in front of us lost their minds and edged toward moshing but stopped short of freefalling. 

Overgrown, quiet, moonlit: it was all the more special in Greenwood, which is maybe my favorite spot in all of Brooklyn. We lingered after and walked around the cemetery, encircling a pond through lucioius grass and aged stone. It felt like high school.

[best-in-rise-berkeley]

Rise at Berkeley in Berkeley, CA

The Rise at Berkeley is a famous apartment for students in Berkeley, CA. In other words, college students no longer need to worry about searching for the best apartment home. There’s an awesome option, after all. Since they have notable UC Berkeley apartments for students there, it’s easier to fast track your search. Again, think about the benefits of staying at the Rise at Berkeley. The said place has awesome amenities. When it comes to their modern floor plan, you will have an exciting choice. After all, it is a fully-furnished double occupancy unit with twin XL beds and desks. In addition, the design is perfect for students who want to have extra space for sleep-overs.

Berkeley, CA

These days, there are several options when it comes to pre-scheduled events in Berkeley, CA. To have some choices, it is essential to check out social media and events websites to find the best events. As such, you can check out Eventbrite. By means of their famous travel portal, you can see that there will be Why It's Not Too Late event this coming Thursday, March 21, 2024, at around 6:00 PM at Brower Center. Second, the Bay Area Seed Swap is scheduled on Friday, March 22, 2024, at around 6:00 PM at Ecology Center. Lastly, you can also opt to attend the Will AI Be Humanity’s Last Act? event on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at around 6:30 PM at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

McLaughlin Eastshore State Seashore in Berkeley, CA

Are you familiar with any tourist attraction in Berkeley, CA? Maybe, you are planning to visit well-known sites soon. For example, you can have a day tour at McLaughlin Eastshore State Seashore. Well, McLaughlin Eastshore State Park is a state park and wildlife refuge along the San Francisco Bay shoreline of the East Bay between the cities of Richmond, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Oakland. Aside from that, it encompasses remnant natural wetlands, restored wetlands, as well as landfill west of the Eastshore Freeway. Lastly, its shoreline is 8.5 miles long, and its total area is 1,854 acres that includes both tidelands and uplands.

Berkeley bagel matriarch preps expansion into downtown San Francisco

There are many thought-provoking and inspiring news reports in Berkeley, CA that you should know these days. In a recent news article, the topic was about Berkeley bagel matriarch. Reportedly, the hottest thing in the world of bagels is about to land in San Francisco. Well, apparently, Berkeley's Boichik Bagels, founded by a UC grad, has become internationally known for its authentic New York style quality. On this International Women's Day, KPIX caught up with Emily Winston, matriarch of the new bagel empire. Winston explained of the process stating, "The dough is coming up.” She added: "It's been formed into this kind of rectangular log.”

Link to maps

McLaughlin Eastshore State Seashore Berkeley, CA 94720, United States Head south on W Frontage Rd toward University Ave May be closed at certain times or days 10 ft Turn left at the 1st cross street onto University Ave 1.8 mi Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Way 0.1 mi Turn left onto Center St 0.3 mi Turn left onto Kala Bagai Wy Destination will be on the right 0.1 mi Rise at Berkeley 2025 Kala Bagai Wy, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States

[verdantsecretary]

Where to Play Street Basketball in Brooklyn

Where to Play Street Basketball in Brooklyn

Brooklyn, New York, renowned for its vibrant culture and diverse neighborhoods, is also a hotspot for street basketball enthusiasts. If you're looking to lace up your sneakers and hit the courts for some urban hoops action, Brooklyn offers a plethora of options. From iconic outdoor courts steeped in basketball lore to hidden gems tucked away in neighborhood parks, there's something for every player. Here are some top spots to indulge in the thrill of street basketball in Brooklyn:

1. The Cage (West 4th Street Courts)

Located in Greenwich Village, just a stone's throw away from Brooklyn, The Cage is arguably the most famous outdoor basketball court in New York City. Known for its electrifying atmosphere and intense competition, this court has been featured in numerous films and documentaries. It's a must-visit destination for any basketball enthusiast seeking a taste of authentic streetball culture.

2. Brower Park

Nestled in the heart of Crown Heights, Brower Park offers a welcoming environment for players of all skill levels. With multiple courts available, you'll often find pick-up games happening throughout the day. The park's vibrant atmosphere, coupled with its convenient location, makes it a popular choice for local basketball enthusiasts.

3. Marcy Playground

Made famous by its association with hip-hop legend Jay-Z, Marcy Playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant is another iconic spot for street basketball in Brooklyn. Despite its humble surroundings, the court has seen its fair share of talent over the years. Whether you're looking to showcase your skills or simply enjoy a casual game with friends, Marcy Playground provides the perfect setting.

4. McCarren Park

Situated in the heart of Williamsburg, McCarren Park boasts well-maintained courts and a lively basketball scene. With ample space for multiple games simultaneously, it's easy to find a match suited to your preferences. After a game, you can explore the park's other amenities or grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby eateries.

5. Sunset Park

For those willing to venture a bit farther south, Sunset Park offers a picturesque setting for outdoor basketball. Perched atop a hill overlooking the Manhattan skyline, the park's courts provide a unique backdrop for your hoops endeavors. Whether you're playing under the bright sun or the glow of city lights, Sunset Park offers an unforgettable basketball experience.

Conclusion

In Brooklyn, the love for basketball runs deep, and the opportunities to play streetball are endless. Whether you're seeking fierce competition or simply looking to shoot some hoops in a relaxed setting, you'll find no shortage of courts to suit your needs. So grab your basketball, gather your friends, and head out to one of these iconic locations to experience the thrill of street basketball in the borough of Brooklyn.

[nityarawal]

July 5, 2023

Attn: Honorable Judge Hodgkins

DA: Summer Stephan

VP

My Accountant Amy Aronson 951-592-8116 can confirm IRS stole

More than registration & insurance for 2017- 2023 with foul play on car by Lexus, Triple A ( Idyllwild Garage- Daniel Crabtree) and officers: Enoch, Protero, Sheriff Bianco, Parsons, and Idyllwild Realty Broker Shane Stewart etc. Plus had propsrty manager Emily Pearson & Leslie Wiedner murdered while my life was attempted as a probate.

Dmv.org admitted to foul play with boss Raj and Daniel Smachtenberger (x's boyfriend/physicist.) 

Haydn Huntley has proof of texts on old iPhone.

Call 808-283-5173 & proof of sexual assaults, forced drugs, police reports, and attempted murder! (Via Probate court/County scam!)

We's like to have Judge Judith Clark delicensed on foul play with atty Ashby Clark Sorrenson. X's atty Lori Clark Viviano is dead.

Please send registration on car and $10b  (Ten Billion Dollars) in damages for foul play with dmv.org, airbnb, Lexus Lemon & management, California Car rentaland foul play from clerk to Presidents.

You're all suppanaed for 8/18-19 court in Vista Dept 1 with Judge Kelly Mok and Mathew Brower to disclose all foul play and bribes with courts to attempt my life.

Psychologist boss Carmel Benson took bribes attempted to steal my car- two times- left my car windows open, threw away key and Curtis threatened to steal it at Joan Grandizio's Free Living Shelter.

Alex at Mtn Liquor can testify cops bragged about car abuse, Dennis Sketchley broke window in my car in his back parking lot with a chain saw after he assaulted me, and he witnessed my bloody knees after handyman Dennis beat me up and slumlorded me.

I need my kids and assets.

Not another vanity case from gay cops, DA, judges & attys. 

Fix it or retire.

Probono now.

Thanks!

Blessings,

Nitya Azam Huntley-Rawal 

[citylifeorg]

Friends of Brower Park and Brooklyn Children’s Museum Celebrate Juneteenth With a Day of Family-Friendly Activities at Brower Park in Crown Heights on June 19

Photo Credit: Winston Williams  Friends of Brower Park and Brooklyn Children’s Museum will present Juneteenth in Brower Park, a special community commemoration to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday in Brower Park in Crown Heights on Monday, June 19. The day will feature live music, dance, workshops, performances, and art projects.  Juneteenth offers the opportunity to acknowledge hard truths from…

[akmethings]

Flaneur Radio w/ Standing on the Corner: Brower Park ~ 11th October 2017

[crater-lake]

5

3/10/23

I feel very proud of myself! Here are the reasons. I just finished my 7:30AM - 12:00PM shift. It was an easy day. I can wake up and go to work. I feel lucky that waking up does not hurt as much as it used to in High School. I was explaining derivatives to an OA and it caught me in a fury of numbers. I found the equation to describe the change of the numbers of fourth power numbers. Which is to say the numbers between 1,16,81, 256 etc. I came up with the equation: 4x^3-6x^2+4x-1 which generates the sequence: 1, 15, 65, 175, 369, 671. I have not done math in a little while so it impressed me that I was able to generate it. I felt useful and intelligent. My coworkers were confused by me and I explained that I don’t like to be bored. It was a lot of fun. Once the caffeine hits my system, I’m gone. I also forwarded the link for submitting an advertisement to the Student Centers for Stephanie from my Bilingual Research Class for her endangered language project workshop. I knew how to find her email. I coordinated with Jenn for Make-a-Wish for next week’s schedule and coordinated with Demi to ensure I can do both next week. I went to the Main Lounge and played piano and talked to Elizabeth and that faculty member about music at the piano. He asked me to play Clair de Lune and I did not mind. Hablé con Elizabeth sobre su hijo y como aprender tocar el piano y quiere que aprenda “Happy Birthday.” I also made a reservation for Mangia Toscano at 7PM so I can get dinner with my friend Sam! I played Rachmaninov. I came to Brower to eat food. Miquel told me he sent the Catalan poem I wrote for him to his mother, who said it was “precious.” Miquel loves the poem I wrote so much that it made him cry. I got my third and final reference for my internship application for the Court Interpreting Internship I am applying for this summer! I asked my interpretation professor from Spain and he agreed and I even emailed him in Catalan! This week, I made a Linked-In and completely revised my resumé. I just need to write a Cover Letter and wait for Liz’s new email for her Philadelphia job. I’m seeing my friend Matt in 45 min, who I met over the summer because he came in to play the piano and I said, “What is your story?” and I showed him my Golden Hour Poetry (before JVKE ruined the phrase) and we reconnected after Spain and yes, everyday I wake up and wonder when Fulbright results are coming out. I have never wanted something so badly in my whole life. I am listening to Arlo Parks and thinking of Ananya and how I am doing everything I have ever dreamed of and I remember so viscerally when I was at Make-a-Wish having just left and evening was a vibrant amber hanging in the pine trees across the parking lot and black silhouettes spread their wings against the radiant firmament (word occurred to me for some reason) and I felt utterly there, like dumbfoundedly there, wildly there. And I knew Vulnera was different and that it ended again, for me, in that moment. I have made it despite the horror I have witnessed getting older. I led a sectional in University Choir and people ask me if I study music and I say I don’t, I just love it. I do Sinfonia with Jay as well and feel proud. When I get the chance, I go to the gym and have good sex with pretty men and I can hold my glorious sadnesses and set them down if I need to and the coffee is sprinting through me and I feel warmly about graduating and I will do everything I need to do to be okay and to not be in vulnera. I am actively trying to invest into my life and my wellbeing and my friends and my existence. I do not deserve vulnera. I am in my name and my story. People value and love me. I can leave a room. I can try to leave a room. I can leave the room 598 times and then try again. Now Black Dog is playing: the E major seventh to A major seventh is being saved. Miquel said to me: T’estime molt molt molt molt molt.